French Exit Quotes

Franklin Hey, Malcolm?

Malcolm Yes, Dad?

Franklin What do you think of all this?

Malcolm Of all what?

Franklin Your mother wants to kill your father.

Malcolm Yeah.

Franklin Any thoughts on it?

Malcolm To be honest, Dad, I'd just as soon not get involved.

Franklin Nice. That's nice. That's family for you.

Malcolm I guess what I really mean to say, dad, is: I don't know that it's fair for you to ask me to weigh in on something so personal as this considering the fact that I don't know who you are, have never known who you are, and not because I didn't want to but because you never so much as parted the curtain for me, never showed me the slightest preference or kindness, even as a child, when I worshipped you and all I ever wished for was for you to take me by the hand and walk me through any motherfucking park, pat me on the fucking head, for Christ’s sake was I that repellent a creature to you?

Malcolm If I win, you take your bag and leave - alone.

Tom Wait a minute. What do I win?

Malcolm Nothing. Everything's exactly the same as before.

Susan Well, it's all very moving, I'm sure.

Malcolm What?

Susan Your devotion to a woman who didn't hardly introduce herself to you until you were twelve years old. Your refusal to live beyond the rules she's written for her own benefit. You don't bring flowers to someone you're saying goodbye to, Malcolm. Please leave me alone.

Young Malcolm What was jail like?

Frances Not really very much fun.

Young Malcolm What was the food like?

Frances You're getting it.

Frances Your wife of long years, who only days earlier wanted to murder you, has experienced a sudden and mysterious shift in feeling for the good. Is that not noteworthy?

Franklin I guess so. But Frances?

Frances Yes?

Franklin I'm a cat.

Frances I know that.

Franklin I'm a cat living under a bench, and it's raining, and I've got worms and fleas and, you know, I'm not much concerned about anything besides the unhappy facts of my horrible -- my truly horrible, miserable fucking existence.

Malcolm Can I ask you a very dramatic question?

Frances Yes.

Malcolm Why did you have me in the first place?

Frances That is dramatic. It wasn't planned, of course. I thought I couldn't have children, and had never wanted one. Then, when it happened, we thought your presence could help us come together. You were a last ditch effort, in effect. But then, when he saw you, it clarified something for him, and he turned away forever, from you and me both.

Malcolm But I shouldn't hate him.

Frances Your father is an emotional moron, but he isn't evil.